Residents of Mbuyu wa Chapa in Jomvu have accused unnamed individuals of trying to grab their land.
The residents on Friday staged a protest, saying the county is "hell-bent on evicting them from their land in the name of bringing development projects".
They claimed the county illegally amalgamated their parcels of land and processed a new title deed without their notice.
“That was illegal since we have been in possession of the land for more than 50 years,” said Tina Mbogo, a community member and an official of the Mbuyu wa Chapa Community CBO.
“Our titles to the lands were revoked without our knowledge. We only got to learn about the revocation through the lands county executive committee member,” Mbogo said.
However, lands executive Hussein Mohamed, alias Amadow, told the Star the community members were engaged by the county about the national and county projects to be established on the land.
He said the parcels belong to the county government and produced the title deeds.
“There are three parcels of land that were earmarked for the projects but one has a court case. The only thing that proves you own a land is the title deed. They don’t have the title deeds. They are squatters,” Amadow said.
The executive said then Trade CS Moses Kuria issued a licence for the establishment of the Special Economic Zone to Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and the project had attracted Iranian investors.
“There is also a marshalling yard that needs to be done on the other parcel. We also have a housing project proposed for the area,” Amadow said.
The land in question is 301 acres.
He said although the residents are squatters, the county has plans to resettle them on a parcel it will set aside.
“We care about our people and we will not leave them hanging. We had sent our officers to ascertain the exact number of squatters for resettlement but they were chased away,” Amadow said.
He said some individuals are misadvising residents, a matter that was echoed by MP Badi Twalib, who said he has three times called for an engagement meeting to try and solve the matter.
“But each time we call a meeting, residents say they have other engagements or the matter is in court and they cannot discuss it. Who doesn’t want to have an engagement with their MP over a matter that affects them?” the legislator posed.
Twalib, who defended the governor, said he has had an engagement with him over the matter to find out how his constituents will benefit from the projects and how they will be resettled.
“So, since they were not interested in the engagement, I also kept quiet so they can finish with their matters first before we engage when they are ready,” the MP said.
Residents said they are not against any development project, but the ‘secrecy’ in which they are being conducted.
They said the county has been harassing them for being vocal against mistreatment.
However, Amadow said there was public participation on the projects and residents were informed of the benefits of the project and how they would be established.
Resident Jonathan Dzuya, 74, said he was born and raised in the area.
He said the public participation fora were all abrupt and only a few people attended.
“The village elder is called at night and informed to mobilise residents for a public forum the next day. People have work to go to,” Dzuya said.
“We need the projects because we have our youth who need jobs, but these things must be done with thought and process. There are people riding on these projects but have intention to grab our lands. And that is our main cry.”
Resident Francis Tunje said they have stayed for more than 12 years without interruption, meaning they are entitled to claim the land on adverse possession.
